International Friendly – Malta vs Northern Ireland Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When does Malta vs Northern Ireland kick off? Monday 31st May, 2021 – 18:00 (UK)
Where is Malta vs Northern Ireland being played? Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
Where can I get tickets for Malta vs Northern Ireland? A lot of international games are being played without spectators but the situation is changing rapidly so it is worth checking official ticketing websites for updates
What TV channel is Malta vs Northern Ireland on? This match will not be televised live in the UK
Where can I stream Malta vs Northern Ireland? This match cannot be streamed live in the UK
THE PREDICTION
The ever improving Malta continued their upward curve in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in March. They lost 3-1 against Russia after being just 2-1 down in the dying moments as well as leading 2-0 away against Slovakia only to draw 2-2. That upward curve is not something replicated with Northern Ireland. The departure of Michael O’Neill signalled an apparent major decline in performance under the tutelage of Ian Barraclough. His tenure has seen the Northern Irish not win inside 90 minutes in any of his ten games in charge but there was some improvement in performance when they lost 2-0 in Italy in March. A neutral venue for this will mean Northern Ireland are the favourites but it really is much closer than it should be; it is likely to be low-scoring.
